FIFA to help rebuild football facilities in Leyte

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – A FIFA delegation has concluded a three-day inspection of Tacloban, Leyte as they reaffirmed their commitment to help rebuild the football infrastructure and facilities in the typhoon-hit region.

Tacloban was one of the areas most severely affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda last November, and officials of the Leyte Football Association (Leyte FA) said 15 football players from Tacloban died during the typhoon, one of the strongest in recorded history.

FIFA.com reported that the trip made by FIFA officials followed the assistance offered by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in the aftermath of Yolanda.

FIFA's Finance Committee also said it will contribute a special grant of $1 million to the rebuilding of the football infrastructure and facilities in the Philippines.

Based on the preliminary assessment conducted by the FIFA delegation and Leyte FA’s Dan Palami, the special grant will be used for the reconstruction of football infrastructure mostly in the Leyte region.

FIFA, the PFF, and the United Nations Development Program will also lead the implementation of at least 20 grassroots clinics for the children in region.

“Together with the PFF and the Leyte football authorities, we are committed to rebuilding the football infrastructure in the Philippines,” FIFA director of member associations and development Thierry Regenass said in the FIFA website.

“The overall purpose is to contribute to the normalization of football activities in the short term,” Regenass added.